AARP® Essential Rewards Mastercard®
Basic Information
Program ID: aarp-essential-rewards-mastercard
Issuer: Barclays
Card Type: Credit
Network: Mastercard
Card Tier: Standard
Data Complete: Yes
Created: 01/15/2026 17:15
Last Scraped: 01/15/2026 17:16
Fee Structure
| Annual Fee: | $0.00 |
| Year 1 Waived: | No |
| Effective Annual Fee: | $0.00 |
| Authorized User Fee: | $0.00 |
| Penalty APR: | 2,999.00% |
Additional Fees
| Late Fee: | $40.00 |
| Returned Payment: | $40.00 |
| Balance Transfer: | Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater |
| Cash Advance: | Either $10 or 5% of the amount of each cash advance, whichever is greater |
| Foreign Transaction: | 0.00% |
Interest Rates
Purchase APR Range: 2,124.00% - 2,924.00%
Intro Purchase APR: 0.00%
Intro APR Duration: 15 months
Balance Transfer APR: 2,924.00%
Intro BT APR: 0.00%
Intro BT Duration: 15 months
Cash Advance APR: 2,999.00%
Sign-Up Bonus
Bonus Amount: $100.00
Spending Requirement: $500.00
Time Period: 90 days
Bonus Timing: Typically within 8-12 weeks after the spending requirement is met. The bonus will appear as a statement credit.
Rewards Program
Reward Type: Cash Back
Base Reward Rate: 1.00%
Bonus Reward Rate: 3.00%
Bonus Categories: 3x Gas, 3x Drug Stores, 2x Medical Expenses
Point Value Estimate: 0.0100 cents/point
Expiration Policy: Cash back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open and in good standing.
Transfer Partners: N/A
Card Benefits
Protection Benefits
Travel Benefits
- No Foreign Transaction Fees
Premium Benefits
Approval Criteria
Recommended FICO Range: 670 - 850
Approval Odds Category: Good
Pre-qualification Available
Soft Pull Supported
Hard Pull Bureau: Experian, TransUnion, Equifax
Issuer Rules
Rules: The AARP Essential Rewards Mastercard from Barclays for 2026 typically offers a welcome bonus for new cardmembers who meet a specified spending threshold within the first 3 months of account opening. This bonus is generally not available to applicants who have previously received a bonus for this specific card product within the last 24-48 months. Eligibility requirements include: a good to excellent credit score (typically FICO 700+), and adherence to Barclays' application policies, most notably the '6/24 Rule' which states applicants cannot have opened more than 6 new credit card accounts (from any issuer) in the past 24 months. While not a strict application requirement, the card is designed for AARP members.
Maximum Cards Per Issuer: 3
Minimum Spend Interval: 3 months
Shutdown Risk Triggers: Manufactured spending, high cumulative credit limit across Barclays products, excessive credit cycling, defaulting on other Barclays accounts, sudden uncharacteristic large purchases, rapid application for multiple Barclays cards, abuse of return policies or chargebacks.
International Friendly
User Analytics & Insights
User Ratings
Average Rating: 3.8 / 5.0
Top Positive Feedback:
No annual fee and solid cash back on everyday spending like gas and restaurants. Easy to earn rewards, especially for AARP members. Good sign-up bonus for a no-annual-fee card.
Top Negative Feedback:
Cash back rates are not competitive enough compared to other cards. Customer service can be slow or unhelpful at times. Limited bonus categories, not ideal for all spending habits.
Approval Experience Score: 75.0 / 100
Recommended Alternatives
- Chase Freedom Unlimited
- Citi Double Cash Card
- Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
Card Value Score: 65.0 / 100
Est. Annual Rewards: $200.00
User Portfolio Metrics
Avg Portfolio Size: 4 cards
Avg Portfolio Age: 180 months
Store vs Co-brand: 100% General / 0% Store
Risk Assessment
Default Risk Group: Low
Predicted Approval Probability: 75.0%
Terms Version Control
Version ID: October 2023